News Beat

Irvine Wade Hutchinson, who had been cared for at home by his daughter and was in our paper recently, died on Wednesday. He was 77.

Mr. Hutchinson’s daughter, Katy Miller, was incredibly gracious as she welcomed me into the family’s home in Dooms to observe the way she cared for her father. She also provided some real insight into the challenges, and joys, of caring for an aging relative. “I know when he’s serious, and when he’s jokey,” she said.

There’s a story in Sunday’s Virginian Pilot, authored by former News Leader reporter Julian Walker, that digs into the battle behind the health care battle. He concludes it’s not about health care at all.
Rather the real issue is the GOP’s rage at being outmaneuvered in 2013, when Gov. Bob McDonnell was finally able to break the log-jam to fund state road improvements.
All interesting stuff, but the most interesting revelation for local readers might be that Del. Ben Cline was behind a near-coup against House Speaker William Howell’s leadership in back in November. He apparently had backing from the newly elected Mark Berg and perpetual conservative gadfly Del. Bob Marshall, Walker reports.
Check out the whole story at: http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/behind-virginias-medicaid-fight-lurk-roads-politics .

The Stuarts Draft school complex was locked down Wednesday due to a police standoff a few blocks away at a residence. The scene in the 40 block of Stubblefield Road led authorities to tighten school security. The home was a few blocks north of the schools. There were shots fired possibly, and a woman escaped the home, police said.

Shots have been fired at a residence in the 40 block of Stubblefield Road in Stuarts Draft. One resident has escaped and police officers with the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office are trying to negotiate with the person they believe fired the shot. He has barricaded himself in the house. No one else is inside.